Resilient cushion



Dec. 18, 1951 l.. J. ZERBEE RESILIENT CUSHION Filed April 16, 1945 Patented Dec. 18, 1951 UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE RESILIENT. CUSHION Lo'uisf-J.` Zerbee; BellefontaineOhio Application April-16, 1945;, Serial-No. 588,687

a cushionv that'v is provided. with ai screen mainr` bod'yf portion supported' at" least in part upon a screen' wiresupporting member.

Another" object of"thisinvention' i'stojprovide al cushion having 'a pair "or nested screen wire cushioning; members; one` of' which hasA greater resiliency Atharrthe'oth'er'.

Another object off this invention isto provide:

a screenwir'e` cushionhaving' the il'eXible charac'- teristicsF of overstuiiedi cushions'that have'` a soft feeling; but at'tlie same' timeoffer sul'cientr'e'e sistanceitoabsorbthe load.

Another object'- ofv thisv inventionis 'to' provide tl'iefront ofthe cushion thanattherear;

Another object of this invention is to provide a cushion-that willautomatically'adjust' or adapt itselfi'to a-variable load such asV isencountered when* a' vehicle 'goes over a stone v orf alrough" place inthepavement Otherf objects and advantages reside-'i inthe' construction ofparts, the-combinationthereof and"- the;` modeofl' operation,- asL will become* more apfparent fromthe following description;

AIn` the drawings,l Figure 1@ is -a sideI elevational view of thecushion.

Figure 2 is a top planview.v Figure 1 3 isJ a.- cross sectional view: taken I substanti'allylon the :line 3--31'orFigurer.V

Figure 4 is; aitransverse.- crossfsectional view of-l aA modification; takenf= substantially' onn the! line` d-dfof Eiguref.

Figure 5:y is; a cross: sectional. View takeni` sub'- stantiallyn .the lines?,f-5iofligurev 4i The spring-'steelwiremesh orfscreenlthatfis usedi inconnection with thisA invention Ama-yrconsisto'f'a high. carbon steel; wire orv other spring'. wire; orf other.; resilient material; either: witlr or; without l heat treatment,similar to thefscreendisclosed inf myPatent No. 2,126,439; patented "'Augustig.; .1938i In the;l preferredembodiment: disclosed: in their dra-wings; a. cushion is higher or deeperY near.'y th'e front-.than itis neartheback. Thisis to providea cushion. simulatingl the appearance :of cushions now appearing on the market.` In yaddition thereto, ,the cushion has.- a? number of? characteristics similar to. thefcushionsnow appearing-1onthe-y market, aslwil'Lappear moresfully` froznzthef de=l tailed description that follows.

I 2 Referringatothe drawings, ,the-reference characterA I I)i indicates the mainV spring.Y body or outer cushionscreen member. arched and heldl inY the desired contour and attachedtoV a flexiblev metallic band I2' andascreen band o'r'shroud support I'4`that extends through` out the peripheryV of`the cushion. Thev iierxilol'e. barrdf I2; the' cushion. member. Ill and' the shroudsupport Itl are securedtogetherjby. a plurality off' 1'0" rivets, weids, staples, bolts" or other means I6. Theshroudsupport- It is' preferably provided with a` reent'rant Hangje I8' extending along 'the' upper marginthereof. The cushion' screen member Ill may be made of comparatively flexible material, soA as'A tok readilyV yield when the cushion` isi occupied.

ordn to" arrest the downward movement.' of

the'cushion screen member IU, a second spring wire* cushioning-member 20, which` may be made from heavier'and stiffer spring wire, is mounted" within the cushionmember lili in' spaced relation" fromfthetop thereof.` The-margin' of the Acushioning member 2lil is clamped between a comparativelyfrigid-supporter ring 22-v and the lower margin of, theJshroudlsupport -lf'that is provided" with a; reentrant portion 2liV throughout' the`Y 26" extendf periphery;- thereof.A Suitable rivets through the shroud support I4, the margin lof thelcushioningimember 2'and the 'ring '22?. The

tutesthebaserforfthecushion.

Suitable? noise deadening' material 28# mayA be placedf.` between the: two screen wire cushioning members mand-29,' so'as-to'rsilence the'assembly. Thislnoise: deadening materiall may be steel wool, mineral-.1 Woolf or." any fother suitable material.

When the occupanti:isseatedupon thecushion, thev more'fflexibleiouterfcushion. `member I 6.- yields more readily, so asA to 'giver the impression of a very soft` cushion. Asr member IIJ yields', it engages.- the noise deadeningy material` Zandl the?Y loWer'cushion-ZD, Which inturn yields, but tola' farY lesser degree.l This. combination gives the feeling of a luxurious,.soft cushion. The ilex-f ibility of the'cushion'memb'er ID* isenhanced bytheexible support for vthe margin'thereof whieh permits themarginsoflthecushiontolbefdeflected into'the dot-dash position shown in Figure' 2."v

The Vflexible .metallic bandll 2l=yields and the shroud support'. I A yields "bellying-outso as to vpermit theA sides to iiex outwardly and twist, as shownlin Figurezf This: outward movement" of the margins of th'ecushion,..inladdition to increasing the softfeeling.y of the: cushion, prolon'gs' the life ofl ther strands,i,bo.th thefwarp andllthewe'ftwires -in the screen, in that the outward movement prevents This cushionmember is.

iiexing of the wire over a short distance. This arrangement permits the use of the screen wire in a large cushion or seat that may be comparatively deep, in that the downward movement of the outer cushion member I is limited by the more rigid inner cushioning member 20 which functions as an inner spring.

In the modification disclosed in Figures 4 and 5, the outer cushion member I0, the flexible band I2 and the shroud support I4 may be identical to the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Instead of an inner cushioning member, as shown in the preferred embodiment, a comparatively stiff horizontally disposed screen member 30 provided with downwardly projecting peripheral flanges 32 is secured at thecorners to the exible band I2, the margin of the outer cushion member I0 and the shroud support III by a plurality of rivets 34. By attaching the horizontal screen member 30 by the four corners, leaving the sides free to move, the center of the screen is permitted to yield sufficiently to give the eiect of a cushion. The margins of the outer cushion member I0, the flexible band l2 and the shroud support I4 may move outwardly in a manner substantially identical to that described in connection with the preferred embodiment. The lower margin of the shroud support I4 is riveted to a rather rigid supporting band 36 by a plurality of rivets 38. This coniines and rigidly holds the shroud support, permitting the upper margin of the shroud support to flex outwardly with the margin of the outer cover I0.

For some purposes suitable high carbon steel wire or other spring wire may be used in connection with the shroud support without any other spring or cushion, in which event the entire weight is absorbed by the outer spring member I0. In the event the inner spring is eliminated, which it may be for many purposes, the outer member I D is then made from stiffer spring wire, so as to offer sufcient resiliency to properly absorb the weight of the occupant. The shroud support I4 permits the margins of the main cushion member I0 to flex outwardly, thereby producing a softer cushion and prolonging the life of the spring Wires.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will'beV understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning member of high carbon steel wire screen formed into a rcurved contour, a. shroud support extending throughout the margin of the periphery of the cushioning member forming a flexible support therefor, a second cushioning member consisting of a horizontally disposed high carbon steel wire screen having the corners attached to the corners of the outer cushioning member and to the corners of the shroud support, said second cushioning member functioning as an inner spring for the outer cushioning member.

2. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning member of spring steel wire screen, yieldable means for supporting the margins of said cushioning member, a second cushioning member consisting of spring steel wire screen having a contour similar to the outer cushioning member, the inner cushioning member having less resiliency than the outer cushioning member, the center of the cushioning members being arranged in spaced relation so that the outer cushioning member has a free movement before engaging the inner cushioning member.

3. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning member of woven spring screen formed into a curved contour, means for supporting the margins of said outer cushioning member, a second cushioning member consisting of a horizontally disposed woven screen functioning as an inner spring, said second cushioning member having the main body portion thereof lying in a fiat plane when the cushioning assembly is unoccupied, the corners of the second cushioning member being flxedly attached to the means forsupporting the margins of the outer cushioning member, the sides of said second cushioning member being free to move,

thereby permitting the second cushioning member to yield in response to the load.

4. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning member of woven spring screen formed into a curved contour, means for supporting the margins of said outer cushioning member, a second cushioning member consisting of a horizontally disposed woven screen functioning as an inner spring, said second cushioning member having the main body portion thereof lying in a flat plane when the cushioning assembly is unoccupied, said second cushioning member being provided with marginal flanges extending in a direction normal to the plane of themain body portion, the corners of the second cushioning member being fixedly attached to the means for supporting the margins of the outer cushioning member, the sides of said second cushioning member being free to move thereby permitting the second cushioning member to yield in response to the load.

5. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning member of spring steel wire screen, a yieldable shroud support for the margins of the cushioning member, a horizontally disposed screen member having the corners thereof connected to the yieldable shroud support and to the margins of the outer cushioning member, the sides of the horizontally disposed screen member being free to move, and means for reeniorcing the shroud support to provide a rigid support for the cushioning assembly.

6. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning member of high carbon steel wire screen formed into a curved contour, a shroud support extending throughout the margin of the periphery of the cushioning member forming a exible support therefor, the margins of the outer cushioning member being attached to the upper margin of said shroud support, a second cushioning member consisting of a spring wire screen having a contour similar to the outer cushioning member, said second cushioning member being less yieldable than the outer cushioning member, said second cushioning member having its margins attached to the lower margin of the shroud support, and means for reenforcing the lower margin of the shroud support to provide a rigid base for the cushioning assembly.

tending throughout the margin of the periphery of the cushioning member, said-nexible band cooperating with the shroud support to form a ilexiblesupport for the cushioning member. and a supportl for the lower margin of the shroud support..

8. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning screen wovenl from resilient material, said screen being formed into a curved contour, a shroud support extending throughout the margin of the periphery of the cushioning screen forming a flexiblev supportk therefor, a second cushioning screen consisting of a horizontally disposed screen woven from resilient material, said screen having the corners attached to the corners of the outer cushioning screen and to the corners of the'shroiid support,said second screenfunctioning as an inner spring fo'rthe outer cushioning-screen. "i

"9; A cushioning assembly'including an outer cushioning screeni'nember woven from resilient material, said screen being formed into a curved eontoun'a exible band mounted within the margin of the cushioning member, a shroud support extending throughout the margin of the periphery of the cushioning screen member, said flexible band cooperating with the shroud support to form a flexible support therefor, and a second screen cushioning member woven from resilient material and mounted within the first cushioning screen member so as to function as an auxilber having less resiliency than the outer cushioning screen member, the ycenter of the cushioning members being arranged in spaced relation so that the outer cushioning screen member has a free movement before engaging the inner cushioning member.

11. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning screen member woven from resilient material, a yieldable shroud support for the margins of the cushioning screen member, a horizontally disposed screen member having the corners thereof connected to the yieldable shroud support and to the margins of the outer cushioning screen member, the sides of the horizontally disposed screen member being free to move, and means for reenforclng the shroud support to provide a rigid support for the cushioning assembly.

12. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning screen member woven from resilient material, said screen member being formed into a curved contour, a shroud support extending throughout the margin of the periphery of the cushioning member forming a flexible support therefor, the margins of the outer cushioning member being attached to the upper margin of said shroud support, a second cushioning member consisting of a screen having a contour sirnilar to the outer cushioning member, said second cushioning member being less yieldable than the outer cushioning member, said second cushyielding bellying-euuand a support for the lower margin-of the shroud support. l y

14. A cushioning assembly including an outer cushioning' member of high carbon steel wire screen formed into a curved contour, a vflexible band located inside the margin of the cushioning member, a shroud support extending through-'- outtheinargin of the cushioningmember, said flexible band cooperating with the shroud support to form a flexible Support for the cushioning member, an inner screen cushioning member Woven from high carbon steel Wire, said inner cushioning member being mounted Within the outer cushioning member so -as to function as an auxiliary spring for said outer cushioning member, and means attached to the shroud support for supporting the inner screen cushioning member.

15. A cushioning assembly including a cushioning member of high carbon steel wire screen, and a band-like member extending around the margin of the cushioning member, said bandlike member being made of flexible material so that as the cushioning member is deflected by a weight the middle of the side portion of the cushioning member is curved permitting the margin of the cushioning member to be bowed outwardly in a direction substantially normal to the deflecting force and permitting the margin to twist.

16. A cushioning assembly including a cushioning member of high carbon steel wire screen, a band-like member extending around the margin of the cushioning member, said band-like member being made of flexible material so that as the cushioning member is deflected by a weight, the middle of the side portion of said cushioning member is curved permitting the margin of the cushioning member to be bowed outwardly in a direction substantially normal to the deecting force and permitting the margin to twist, and rigid means forming a support for a portion of the band-like member.

17. A cushioning assembly including a cushioning member of spring Wire screen, a band-like member extending around the outside of the margin of the cushioning member and secured thereto, said band-like member being made of ilexible material so that as the cushioning member is deilected by a weight, the middle of the side portion of said cushioning member is curved outwardly permitting the margin of the'cushioning member to be bowed outwardly in a direction substantially normal to the deilecting force and permitting the margin to twist so that the curvature of the cushioning member is less than if the margin of the cushioning member were rigidly held in position. y

18. A cushioning assembly including a cushioning member of spring wire screen, and a ilexible band extending around the inside of the margin lof the cushioning member and secured thereto.

said band being easily flexed laterally and comparatively rigid Vin the direction parallel tothe adjacent margin of the cushioning member so that as the cushioning member is deflected by a weight, the middle of the side portion of said cushioning member is curved permitting the margin of the cushioning member and the band to be bowed outwardly in a direction substantially normal to the deflecting force and permitting the margin-to twist, the curvature ofthe cushioning member being less acute when deflected than if the margin were rigidly held in position.

19. A cushioning assembly including a, cushioning member of spring wire screen, `the side margins of the cushioning member being normally positioned in vertically straight directions when not in use, a band-like member extending around the margin of the cushioning member and securedthereto, said band-like member being made of flexible material so that as the cushioning member is deflected by a,` weight, the middle of the side portion of said cushioning member is curved permitting the margin of the cushioning member to be bowed outwardly in a direction substantially normal to the deflecting force and permitting the margin of the cushioning member 8 to twist so that the curvature of the cushioning member is less acute than if the margin were rigidly held in position, and means forming a rigid support for a portion of the band-like member.

LOUIS J. ZERBEE.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 660,215 Harmon Oct. 23, 1900 1,916,056 Lampugh June 27, 1933 2,076,510 Ficks Apr. 6, 1937 2,126,439 Zerbee Aug.. 9, 1938 2,251,049 Haberstump July 28, 1941 2,291,004 Stewart July l28, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 17,736 Great Britain 1891 63,319 Switzerland Apr. 3, 1913 

